L.A. Confidential

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L.A. Confidential

R

Released Sep 19, 1997

2h 16m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

99%

Tomatometer

166 Reviews

94%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Three policemen, each with his own motives and obsessions, tackle the corruption surrounding an unsolved murder at a downtown Los Angeles coffee shop in the early 1950s. Detective Lieutenant Exley (Guy Pearce), the son of a murdered detective, is out to avenge his father's killing. The ex-partner of Officer White (Russell Crowe), implicated in a scandal rooted out by Exley, was one of the victims. Sergeant Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) feeds classified information to a tabloid magnate (Danny DeVito).

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Critics Consensus

Taut pacing, brilliantly dense writing and Oscar-worthy acting combine to produce a smart, popcorn-friendly thrill ride.

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Ella Taylor

L.A. Weekly

A masterfully smart and soulful film that bows low before genre even as it betrays it.

Oct 20, 2021

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Jay Carr

Boston Globe

One of the things the film conveys, in addition to institutionalized corruption, is the energy and excitement of a city that knows it's on the move. L.A. Confidential is juicy dynamite.

Rated: 4/4

Oct 20, 2021

Full Review

David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

Dante Spinotti's widescreen camerawork and Jeannine Oppewall`s production design brilliantly recreate the somewhat tawdry world of a glamorous city which is starting to lose its glamour.

Rated: 4.5/5

Oct 19, 2021

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

...with great skill telling several interwoven narratives that expose corruption, venality, and murder with compelling twists and turns that will leave the audience riveted until its closing frame.

Rated: 4/4

Jul 6, 2025

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Dimitris Passas

PopMatters

L.A. Confidential‘s representation of a long-gone era in Los Angeles is exemplary, and the 1950s are enlivened on screen in an accurate and opulent manner.

Nov 28, 2023

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

The flawless ensemble..., the masterfully written story, the vibrant yet gritty vision of 1950s LA - most everything clicks in this fittingly cynical and undeniably seductive period crime thriller that still maintains its style and sizzle.

Rated: 4.5/5

Mar 8, 2023

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thiago s

Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/05/25

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To F

Impresionante, espléndida y magnífica. Que manera de hacer sentir la esencia de los años 50s, su violencia y la ley. Personajes tan perfectos y llamativos. Una narrativa atractiva y profunda con tensión en cada diálogo. Simplemente interesante y llamativa.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/04/25

Full Review

Jay W

"L.A. Confidential" is a mighty fine crime thriller. It has compelling characters, an engaging plot, and it is helped by having an all-star cast and great music from Jerry Goldsmith. The setting of 1950's Hollywood help the film feel like a vintage detective noir. The action is well handled, but it is in the suspense and the character-centered conflicts where this film shines.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/16/25

Full Review

J B

Yes it's an absolute must see - I would add this caveat - it's basically Raymond Chandler - it's fairly obvious who the really bad guys are early on but it's told in a way that manages to still engage you. As a period piece, it looks flawless but I'm not american. Casting is excellent as is some of thr dialogue, but this gets a big bogged down explaining itself. We're not as dumb as you think. Would've been interesting to see David Lynch direct this as would soundtrack. Not perfect - but damn close considering it's modern Hollywood mainstream.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/06/25

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Joseph M

Absolute masterpiece. One of the greatest mystery films ever made.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/06/25

Full Review

Chris Y

masterful. incredibly entertaining but it is what is beneath the surface thematically that sets it miles above the rest. competition, temptation, morality, so much is going on in this film. despite the critical acclaim this film deserves much more attention today.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/28/25

Full Review

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Curtis Hanson

Director

Kevin Spacey

Jack Vincennes

Russell Crowe

Officer Wendell 'Bud' White

Guy Pearce

Det. Lt. Edmund Jennings Exley

James Cromwell

Capt. Dudley Liam Smith

David Strathairn

Pierce Morehouse Patchett

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Synopsis

Three policemen, each with his own motives and obsessions, tackle the corruption surrounding an unsolved murder at a downtown Los Angeles coffee shop in the early 1950s. Detective Lieutenant Exley (Guy Pearce), the son of a murdered detective, is out to avenge his father's killing. The ex-partner of Officer White (Russell Crowe), implicated in a scandal rooted out by Exley, was one of the victims. Sergeant Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) feeds classified information to a tabloid magnate (Danny DeVito).

Director: Curtis Hanson
Producer: Michael G. Nathanson, Arnon Milchan, Curtis Hanson
Screenwriter: Curtis Hanson, James Ellroy, Brian Helgeland
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Brothers, Regency Enterprises
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 19, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $64.6M
Runtime: 2h 16m
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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